ORGANIC AND BIODYNAMIC CERTIFICATION

Organic and Biodynamic farming and food production is governed by a number of regulations. It is illegal to describe a food product as “organic” if it has not been certified as being organic by a registered control body. All foods sold as organic must originate from growers, processors and importers who are registered with an approved certification body and subject to regular inspection. Certifying your farm and products as organic or biodynamic comes with costs and record keeping requirements, and its relevance to your market will depend on the type of direct sales or short supply chain model you use. Some enterprises with direct links to customers who have close connections to the farm find it unnecessary, as customers can check they are happy with the farming practices on their own terms. In many other cases, especially wholesale or sales to restaurants, pubs, cafés and shops where the customer does not visit or have a direct relationship with the farm, organic or biodynamic certification can highlight your production practices. This can add an important margin to produce and help you access markets that would otherwise be inaccessible. Organic control bodies in the UK include:

Organic Farmers & Growers CIC (GB-ORG-02) www.ofgorganic.org

Soil Association Certification Ltd (GB-ORG-05) www.soilassociation.org/certification/

Biodynamic Association Certification (GB-ORG-06) www.bdcertification.org.uk

Irish Organic Association (GB-ORG-07) www.irishorganicassociation.ie

Organic Trust CLG (GB-ORG-09) www.organictrust.ie

Quality Welsh Food Certification Ltd (GB-ORG-13) www.wlbp.co.uk

OF&G (Scotland) Ltd/SOPA (GB-ORG-17) www.ofgorganic.org/scotland

Organic Food Federation (GB-ORG-04) www.orgfoodfed.com The Biodynamic Association is the only certifier of Biodynamic farms and food products in the UK

In addition to Organic and Biodynamic certification, the Pasture Fed Livestock Association certifies meat and dairy raised on 100% pasture and preserved pasture forage. It is not necessary to be organic to become PfL certified, but many farmers combine the two systems.

In order to become certified by an organic control body it is necessary for the producer to apply to one of the bodies to be registered with them. The requirements of each of the organic control bodies vary, and it is recommended that those wishing to convert to organic status check which of the bodies most suit their type of production. Once an application has been received, the organic control body will carry out inspections of the producer’s farm and/or any processing unit(s). If the organic control body is satisfied that the requirements for organic status have been met, it will issue a Certificate of Compliance and will notify the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), who will enter the farm onto a national register. The process of converting land to organic usually takes 2 years, although it can be shorter or longer depending on your situation, for example:
 * 3 years for established orchards of perennial soft, top and vine fruits.
 * 12 months for grass for pig and poultry grazing, if no banned products have been used over the previous 12 months.

Livestock enterprises are converted separately to the land, this can happen either simultaneously or in sequence. During and after the conversion period, the organic control body will carry out annual inspections as well as unannounced spot checks to ensure that the standards are maintained.

What are the requirements for organic producers?
In order to achieve organic status a number of criteria must be met. Those wishing to convert to organic status should check with the individual organic control bodies as to their specific requirements. Broadly speaking the main conditions which must be met include The requirements apply to all parts of the production and processing chain and there are rules relating to the composition and labelling of organic produce.
 * Not using artificial fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides, growth promoters, genetically modified organisms or products produced from or by genetically modified organisms.
 * Using crop rotation and other forms of husbandry in order to maintain soil health and fertility and weed control, pests and diseases;
 * The use of organic seeds and seed potatoes unless such seeds or seed potatoes are unavailable (in such circumstances approval from the organic control body must be obtained);
 * The use of breeds and strains of livestock appropriate for use in organic systems (for example the use of slow growing strains of poultry);
 * The use of appropriate accommodation to house livestock and to ensure that livestock have access to pasture and open air areas where appropriate (for example, there are rules relating to the maximum number of poultry that can be contained in a house and rules relating to grazing, air space, ventilation, feed and water);
 * The feeding of livestock with feeds which are 100% organic unless such feed is unavailable in which the rules may be relaxed (in such circumstances approval from the organic control body must be obtained);
 * The feeding of suckling animals only with natural milk;
 * The use of livestock manure or organic material for fertility building;
 * Longer withdrawal periods on medicines and livestock treatments.